i6 



UNDER THE AFRICAN SUN 



arrival at camp. For them it is important to get the march over 

 as early as possible, and they do not mind marching when the 

 dew lies heavy on the grass, and perhaps is still falling. 1, for 

 my part, can stand dry heat a great deal better than the chill- 

 ing dew ; and those who have had fever, know how easily a 

 chill may bring on an attack. It is, therefore, impossible to 

 lav down hard and fast rules applicable to everybody under all 

 circumstances. 



With perfect weather, running streamlets at intervals along 



the march, 

 ^-{^•^nwE . h ,<^|^KJ^HKI '^ good road, 



no illness in 

 the caravan, 

 and a good 

 supply of pro- 

 visions, the 

 march is the 

 very opposite 

 of a hardship; 

 it is purely 

 and simply a 

 pleasure -trip. 

 And there are 

 many such 

 days on the 

 journey. 



Shooting 

 "for the pot" 

 adds addi- 

 tional zest to 

 the day's en- 

 joyment. Partridges and guinea-fowls are pretty frequently 

 met with, and are a very delicious and acceptable addition to 

 one's fare. The very last I shot — and meat or no meat for 

 dinner depended on it — were a partridge and a brace of guinea- 

 fowls. I got them on the wing with No. 5 shot, which is a 

 good all-round article, when one has not the means of carrying 

 a variety of cartridges like No. 4 for guinea-fowls or No. 8 for 

 snipe. The different species of partridges are very interesting. 

 It is worth while to skin the bird and to preserve the skin ; one 

 may thus collect some very rare specimens. The bird certainlv 



MID-DAY HALT ON THE MARCH. 



